Part 2: SW London Girl's Indies 11+ Pandemic Panic!

@SouthLondonMommy the Dulwich schools have far bigger campus’s which are very impressive. @Oceane11Plus or @stellagibbons are good people to ask about Jags as I believe it’s a top choice for them.

@SouthLondonMommy
Certainly! There are West Londoners and Fulham parents who fell in love with JAGs and Alleyns and are willing to move or rely on the school bus for these schools.

@SouthLondonMommy I think it depends where you live? LEH and G&L seem to be favoured over WHS (and LU?)

I think if you are in Wandsworth there is a common misconception that Dulwich is easier to get to than schools to the West.. (Ibstock suffers from this too) but in reality the trains are far more frequent than the coaches..

From a 2019 thread www.mumsnet.com/Talk/secondary/3505309-Do-private-schools-always-over-offer "Dulwich said he is going to make 100 offers for 70 places"

I think WHS are usually conservative in their offers as they are very much constrained by their space on site - going to waitlist seems usual for them

I agree that the over offer margin is usually very high for all but a few schools who are usually always first choice for those who apply.

@eglantine7 among those you know are Jags and Alleyns preferred over WHS and Putney typically?

@dinosaurinmybelly we thought the online format worked well too. The bus thing was new to us as the train is very easy. The Dulwich schools share so perhaps that’s where the concept has come from.

Weirdly, last night completely turned DH off the school. (He was gunning for it previously). In some ways this was helpful as I’ve always favoured Putney!

I thought PHS would have a waitlist that moves a lot as well. They offer to the all the high scoring girls who will be geographically positioned to accept Godolphin, Latymer Upper, St Paul's Girls as well as LEH and the grammar schools. To many in West London PHS is a very good back up. Many will choose Francis Holland ( the Art scholarships) and for personal choice over PHS as well.

I thought the online experience was very helpful last night at WHS, more so perhaps than if it was happening on site. Gave us a good feel for the co-curricular staff and the school ethos. Interesting that they allow extra GCSE to be taken if you are bilingual or take Mandarin as a club, and that they allow flexibility when choosing GCSEs. That's not the case at other schools.

Anyone else feel they were a little fed up of the idea that they should collaborate with KCS on buses / drama etc?

We’ll see at the PHS open morning on Friday I guess! My historical knowledge suggests the WHS waitlist moves more than PHS as it’s competing for girls who have lots of choices. (Grammar options too)

150/60 was not a surprise as it’s broadly half of who they said they would interview.

200 offers for 60 places would not surprise me and is the number I had in mind. The top 100-150 will most likely be offered a range of other schools they might chose instead of PHS. If each girl applies to 5-6 schools on average, this is quite likely.

@eglantine7 two thirds of those interviewed sounds way too much as they would have interviewed atleast 300 if not more . 200 offers for 60 places ?
I would have assumed more around the lines of one third of the those interviewed
@ Aveeldon would you have any idea on the margins for schools like WHS and PHS ?

@Trialsat11 the schools always over offer - the mystery is the in the margin

I already know many who will turn down both WHS and PHS once SPGS, Latymer Upper, Godolphin, Alleyns and JAGs and some boarding school offers are sent out.
My DD was pretty strong, but not the strongest, in her year and we definitely didn't give her extra tutoring like so many others did which I now wish we did in order to keep up.
These schools offered on the basis of the highest ISEB scores and they know this would have worked against many children who had a bad day. So all in play.
Horrible process I have to say and this year more than ever!

According to my Prep Head 2 thirds of those interviewed at PHS will have received offers.

The turnout for the WHS offers holders event was larger than I had expected too. But then I thought perhaps it included the junior school too...?

@Iamsodone thank you for your detailed points above.. lots to think about!

WHS offers this eve topped out with 148
Joiners. Some likely to be staff or pupils and some likely to be unable to attend so draw your own conclusions!

@Trialsat11 are those online ?

Would be interesting to know how many were interviewed too at PHS and WHS, then as per above how many offered made (though I doubt we will find out)

thanks

For anyone attending offer evenings , any idea on how many offers were made ? Just trying to gauge if the schools have over offered this year or not

We didn't apply to Emanuel as not keen on co-ed for DD, but their site is great and they are obviously keen on developing it from the plans above. I liked the school for DS, but they didn't play football and so he ruled it out. Now, however, they are a football school and even have a girls football team.

The lovely Mr Turner from Alleyn's is also joining Emanuel as Deputy Head - he is amazing with the kids.

@Trialsat11, thank you!

@Tr0ubled I called the schools for info

@Trialsat11 out if interest did you call or email waitlisted schools for info? I’d love to get a better idea for DD (still haven’t told her) but am not that confident when it comes to emailing the schools - stupid I know!

@MumsRule20 thank you ! they mentioned it when we visited but I had forgotten about it

@Stircrazyschoolmum

some thoughts below :

• Access to teachers: some schools share teachers email's address while others don't (like Alleyn's where everything goes through the tutor)
• reporting to parents : how many times a year, do you get reporting ?

• size classes (think PHS is quite high)
• whether they are set for subjects (maths) from Y7 or later
• languages options/path (which ones and when do they start 2nd language)
• music (how many bands/orchestra, choir), how inclusive is it ?
• GCSE options ? how many do x3 science against 2x ?
• Sports: how inclusive sports is, are teams fluid or not.
• Week-end activities: i.e. Saturday sport or others activities
• school trips ?

What is Emanuel's building project ?

Thanks !